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CHOOSE
Mr. Grove Hanson and Miss Kelso Kollen haven't seen one another in years, but their brief fling seven years ago unleashed something evil.
It will demand that each separately choose a series of victims to be killed.
It will choose for them if they refuse.
It will use their bodies to commit the murders.
It will force them to watch.
And it will work relentlessly to bring them back together to force a final choice and complete a horrific cycle begun long ago.
It will demand that each separately choose a series of victims to be killed.
It will choose for them if they refuse.
It will use their bodies to commit the murders.
It will force them to watch.
And it will work relentlessly to bring them back together to force a final choice and complete a horrific cycle begun long ago.
- GenresHorror
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 12, 2025
About the author
D.C. Mallery
15 books37 followersD C Mallery's novel ARTEMESIA was the Gold Award Winner in the Thriller Classics category in the 2023 Reader Views Reviewer's Choice Awards.
SARA SARQUE & THE DEMON EXECUTIONER: and Other Stories of Mystery, Terror, Heartbreak, Hope and Humor was the Gold Award Winner as Best Horror Book in the in the 2023 Reader Views Reviewer's Choice Awards
CASSIA won the SILVER MEDAL in the 2022 Readers' Favorite Awards for Medical Thriller and was also short-listed for the 2022 Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize.
DARKSIGHT received praise from Kirkus Reviews, The US Review of Books, and many others.
TRESSIA and OTHER STORIES has received praise from Readers' Favorite Reviews and Reader Views Reviews and many others.
His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Lamplight, The Bards and Sages Quarterly, Sanitarium Magazine, Hypnos, Ghostlike Magazine, Dark Horses, and The Mythic Circle.
His screenplay, Emergence, was awarded second place for Feature Screenplay at 2018 VisionFest.
"Mallery’s stories and talent are so otherworldly and unlike anything I’ve ever read. I may never read a full novel, or collection of short stories, as engrossing and enjoyable as this." —Reader Views Reviews
SARA SARQUE & THE DEMON EXECUTIONER: and Other Stories of Mystery, Terror, Heartbreak, Hope and Humor was the Gold Award Winner as Best Horror Book in the in the 2023 Reader Views Reviewer's Choice Awards
CASSIA won the SILVER MEDAL in the 2022 Readers' Favorite Awards for Medical Thriller and was also short-listed for the 2022 Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize.
DARKSIGHT received praise from Kirkus Reviews, The US Review of Books, and many others.
TRESSIA and OTHER STORIES has received praise from Readers' Favorite Reviews and Reader Views Reviews and many others.
His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Lamplight, The Bards and Sages Quarterly, Sanitarium Magazine, Hypnos, Ghostlike Magazine, Dark Horses, and The Mythic Circle.
His screenplay, Emergence, was awarded second place for Feature Screenplay at 2018 VisionFest.
"Mallery’s stories and talent are so otherworldly and unlike anything I’ve ever read. I may never read a full novel, or collection of short stories, as engrossing and enjoyable as this." —Reader Views Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 18, 2025
This mind-bending psychological thriller by DC Mallery is a beautiful addition to the world of horror and thriller. With its captivating plot and well-developed characters, this book forces readers to choose it similarly to the southpaw that is shared between Grove and Kelso.
Grove was finally finding his footing, but only for one word, "choose," and a killer living inside him changes it all. From town to town a trail of bodies he leaves behind as he tries harder and harder to fight the southpaw. His job is to choose who dies before it makes the choice.
Choose was clearly written by the hand of a creative and imaginative writer, Mallery. With each page my curiosity was piqued, making this book engaging and captivating. I am recommending this to anyone and everyone who will listen to my rant about it.
Grove was finally finding his footing, but only for one word, "choose," and a killer living inside him changes it all. From town to town a trail of bodies he leaves behind as he tries harder and harder to fight the southpaw. His job is to choose who dies before it makes the choice.
Choose was clearly written by the hand of a creative and imaginative writer, Mallery. With each page my curiosity was piqued, making this book engaging and captivating. I am recommending this to anyone and everyone who will listen to my rant about it.
December 12, 2025
Reviewed by Jill Rey for Reader Views: An exceptional author, DC Mallery is never one to be missed! Whether transporting readers to far-off planets or leaving them witness to strange events, Mallery’s writing is as fully immersive as it is engaging and thought provoking. In his latest book CHOOSE, readers are enraptured by the mind of Grover Hanson as he fights the evil within.
The multitude of ways in which I attempt to rewrite or re-frame my words will never be enough to do Mallery’s writing justice. His characters are all-consuming, and the intricacies of his plots provoke deep reflection on the nuances of the human condition. CHOOSE is no different. Beginning in the casinos of Carson City, Nevada, readers are taken across the country by the burning vengeance within.
Grove is just finding his groove at work as he notices the word ‘choose’ written in sloppy slanted writing, written as if with the non-dominant hand. Struggling to understand how, why, and when he wrote these six distinct letters, and the commanding decision it seems to elicit, festers in Grove’s mind. Yet, as the night winds down, his first ‘choice’ will set in motion a power within him he’ll struggle to control.
Possessed, Grove soon learns his job is to choose who lives and who dies. Naming this inner being the southpaw, for the handwriting that escapes when someone’s time has come, he feasts on the power of each kill. Awakening as the sands of control shift in Grove’s mind, he soon finds himself on the run awaiting the next choice that confronts him. From San Francisco to the Pacific Northwest, Chicago, Italy and back, the southpaw continues to fight for control in the decisions it pushes to be made.
D C Mallery rarely injects anything that doesn’t serve a strategic purpose within his plots. For instance, even details like Blue Hawaiians at a Tiki Bar come full circle in this read. Other elements, like seemingly minor characters, tie back in some way to the climax of this story. The level of thought and detail, both big and small, is as intricate and imagined for the purpose it plays in the larger picture. It’s these thoughtful components that keep readers coming back, anticipating the next release, excited for his writing, and salivating over his characters.
CHOOSE invokes an intimate portrait of possession, psychosis, schizophrenia, or something darker, as readers are left pondering the circumstances of the mind. Mallery slowly unwinds Grove’s history as we’re given glimpses of the events that led to his enlistment and encounters with the opposite sex. Gradually, Mallery peels back Grove’s history, woven within reality, as the power within takes control and the periods of lucidity slowly lose ground to the being within.
A masterpiece of a psychological thriller, CHOOSE offers a dark internal beast hungering to be set free. For fans of twisting horror, haunting thrillers, and psychological mind games, Mallery’s latest is not to be missed. Blurring the line between lucid and malevolent, CHOOSE holds a darkness lurking just under the surface.
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Reviewed by Jordan Waterwash for Reader Views: Unexpected and exciting, CHOOSE by D C Mallery investigates the human psyche through the lens of two individuals who are burdened by the same curse: an entity they call the “southpaw.” Forced to choose who lives and who dies by the southpaw’s hand—and by extension their own hands—Grove Hanson and Kelso Kollen must fight the entity dwelling within them. Although, the choice may be made for them if they refuse to decide for themselves.
CHOOSE explores an interesting concept, one I haven’t seen done before. Reminiscent of the folie à deux phenomenon, the southpaw creates an unbreakable link between Grove and Kelso that can only be made more dangerous as time progresses. It’s as if their shared experience is a delusion that comes to life in horrifying, lethal ways.
We start with Grove’s perspective for the first half of the novel; he is far less knowledgeable on his condition and does everything he can to limit the fallout. The more he tries to push the southpaw out, the more dangerous it becomes. His characterization throughout feels genuine and grounded despite the terrible acts he commits. I often found myself feeling bad for him despite everything he did wrong. It truly felt like he was trapped inside himself while this southpaw enacted its will. Mallery’s depiction of the intensity present throughout the book made the reading experience stressful in the best way. The stakes were high, and every page felt like it mattered.
Kelso’s half of the novel felt equally engaging, though for very different reasons. Where Grove tried to fight the southpaw’s urges and ultimately decided to enact its will on “deserving” parties, Kelso leaned into its power. She had the benefit of hindsight after witnessing Grove’s descent, which added an interesting angle to the southpaw’s arc. While the entity was the same, the reader got to interact with it in a new way through Kelso’s eyes. We also got to see the origins of the southpaw, which was satisfying. Oftentimes, horror novels leave out where exactly the “monster” or “entity” originates; while I love an open-ended horror, I also enjoy when the mythos has an explanation so I can fully appreciate the author’s intention and vision for the book. While the ending felt fast, the logic of it all played out nicely.
CHOOSE by D C Mallery is a fantastic horror novel. Its tension and attention to character will stick with the reader long after the final page.
The multitude of ways in which I attempt to rewrite or re-frame my words will never be enough to do Mallery’s writing justice. His characters are all-consuming, and the intricacies of his plots provoke deep reflection on the nuances of the human condition. CHOOSE is no different. Beginning in the casinos of Carson City, Nevada, readers are taken across the country by the burning vengeance within.
Grove is just finding his groove at work as he notices the word ‘choose’ written in sloppy slanted writing, written as if with the non-dominant hand. Struggling to understand how, why, and when he wrote these six distinct letters, and the commanding decision it seems to elicit, festers in Grove’s mind. Yet, as the night winds down, his first ‘choice’ will set in motion a power within him he’ll struggle to control.
Possessed, Grove soon learns his job is to choose who lives and who dies. Naming this inner being the southpaw, for the handwriting that escapes when someone’s time has come, he feasts on the power of each kill. Awakening as the sands of control shift in Grove’s mind, he soon finds himself on the run awaiting the next choice that confronts him. From San Francisco to the Pacific Northwest, Chicago, Italy and back, the southpaw continues to fight for control in the decisions it pushes to be made.
D C Mallery rarely injects anything that doesn’t serve a strategic purpose within his plots. For instance, even details like Blue Hawaiians at a Tiki Bar come full circle in this read. Other elements, like seemingly minor characters, tie back in some way to the climax of this story. The level of thought and detail, both big and small, is as intricate and imagined for the purpose it plays in the larger picture. It’s these thoughtful components that keep readers coming back, anticipating the next release, excited for his writing, and salivating over his characters.
CHOOSE invokes an intimate portrait of possession, psychosis, schizophrenia, or something darker, as readers are left pondering the circumstances of the mind. Mallery slowly unwinds Grove’s history as we’re given glimpses of the events that led to his enlistment and encounters with the opposite sex. Gradually, Mallery peels back Grove’s history, woven within reality, as the power within takes control and the periods of lucidity slowly lose ground to the being within.
A masterpiece of a psychological thriller, CHOOSE offers a dark internal beast hungering to be set free. For fans of twisting horror, haunting thrillers, and psychological mind games, Mallery’s latest is not to be missed. Blurring the line between lucid and malevolent, CHOOSE holds a darkness lurking just under the surface.
---------------------------------------------
Reviewed by Jordan Waterwash for Reader Views: Unexpected and exciting, CHOOSE by D C Mallery investigates the human psyche through the lens of two individuals who are burdened by the same curse: an entity they call the “southpaw.” Forced to choose who lives and who dies by the southpaw’s hand—and by extension their own hands—Grove Hanson and Kelso Kollen must fight the entity dwelling within them. Although, the choice may be made for them if they refuse to decide for themselves.
CHOOSE explores an interesting concept, one I haven’t seen done before. Reminiscent of the folie à deux phenomenon, the southpaw creates an unbreakable link between Grove and Kelso that can only be made more dangerous as time progresses. It’s as if their shared experience is a delusion that comes to life in horrifying, lethal ways.
We start with Grove’s perspective for the first half of the novel; he is far less knowledgeable on his condition and does everything he can to limit the fallout. The more he tries to push the southpaw out, the more dangerous it becomes. His characterization throughout feels genuine and grounded despite the terrible acts he commits. I often found myself feeling bad for him despite everything he did wrong. It truly felt like he was trapped inside himself while this southpaw enacted its will. Mallery’s depiction of the intensity present throughout the book made the reading experience stressful in the best way. The stakes were high, and every page felt like it mattered.
Kelso’s half of the novel felt equally engaging, though for very different reasons. Where Grove tried to fight the southpaw’s urges and ultimately decided to enact its will on “deserving” parties, Kelso leaned into its power. She had the benefit of hindsight after witnessing Grove’s descent, which added an interesting angle to the southpaw’s arc. While the entity was the same, the reader got to interact with it in a new way through Kelso’s eyes. We also got to see the origins of the southpaw, which was satisfying. Oftentimes, horror novels leave out where exactly the “monster” or “entity” originates; while I love an open-ended horror, I also enjoy when the mythos has an explanation so I can fully appreciate the author’s intention and vision for the book. While the ending felt fast, the logic of it all played out nicely.
CHOOSE by D C Mallery is a fantastic horror novel. Its tension and attention to character will stick with the reader long after the final page.
December 22, 2025
Choose by D. C. Mallery is a chilling psychological thriller that blends suspense, horror, and supernatural terror into a relentlessly tense narrative. The story follows Grove Hanson and Kelso Kollen, former lovers whose brief relationship awakens a malevolent force that refuses to remain dormant. Years after their separation, they are forced into a deadly reunion orchestrated by an entity that seems to know their darkest fears and vulnerabilities. Grove faces an unthinkable choice: select each victim to be murdered or relinquish control of his body to the presence he calls “Southpaw,” which will carry out the killings itself.
Mallery’s pacing is exceptionally strong, pulling the reader forward and making the novel difficult to put down. The tension is palpable, coming off the pages as the psychological and physical stakes escalate with each chapter. The suspenseful horror is effective not only in its violent moments but in the constant sense of dread that surrounds Grove’s internal battle for control. The concept of an external force commandeering a human body is deeply unsettling and adds a disturbing layer to the narrative’s moral conflict.
The characters are well developed and emotionally grounded, which amplifies the impact of their fear and desperation. Their realism makes the danger feel immediate and personal, heightening the overall intensity. Choose delivers sustained suspense, sharp pacing, and lingering tension, leaving a powerful impression that resonates long after the final page.
Mallery’s pacing is exceptionally strong, pulling the reader forward and making the novel difficult to put down. The tension is palpable, coming off the pages as the psychological and physical stakes escalate with each chapter. The suspenseful horror is effective not only in its violent moments but in the constant sense of dread that surrounds Grove’s internal battle for control. The concept of an external force commandeering a human body is deeply unsettling and adds a disturbing layer to the narrative’s moral conflict.
The characters are well developed and emotionally grounded, which amplifies the impact of their fear and desperation. Their realism makes the danger feel immediate and personal, heightening the overall intensity. Choose delivers sustained suspense, sharp pacing, and lingering tension, leaving a powerful impression that resonates long after the final page.
December 24, 2025
CHOOSE
Grover's mother had been involved in a fatal accident that claimed her life. This had seen his dad turn on a new leaf and abandon his old ways to raise his son right as they mourned the one piece that had held the family together. Grover, then still a teenage boy, was infatuated with his next door neighbour, a single mother, but to his surprise, he ended up messing with her underage daughter, Kelso. Their lust had now gotten them in trouble as their parents had to make tough decisions for their lives as a deal rather than destroying the boy’s life.
Grover had now grown into a handy man and could make himself a living. Soon he realised he was possessed by a blood thirsty demon executioner who forced him to choose it’s prey. His life took a sudden turn as he now was a fugitive on a killing spree, rationalising his choice of victims across different states.
The author vividly describes every scene with a touch of dark humour. Toping off the charts is the schizophrenic internal dialogues southpaw seemed to be having with its hosts. The author also explores the themes of resilience, love and family as the two lovers Grove and Kelso go through hell and back to reunite their long separated family. This thriller will have you on the edge of your seat wide-eyed, tongue out as you turn a page to the next.
Grover's mother had been involved in a fatal accident that claimed her life. This had seen his dad turn on a new leaf and abandon his old ways to raise his son right as they mourned the one piece that had held the family together. Grover, then still a teenage boy, was infatuated with his next door neighbour, a single mother, but to his surprise, he ended up messing with her underage daughter, Kelso. Their lust had now gotten them in trouble as their parents had to make tough decisions for their lives as a deal rather than destroying the boy’s life.
Grover had now grown into a handy man and could make himself a living. Soon he realised he was possessed by a blood thirsty demon executioner who forced him to choose it’s prey. His life took a sudden turn as he now was a fugitive on a killing spree, rationalising his choice of victims across different states.
The author vividly describes every scene with a touch of dark humour. Toping off the charts is the schizophrenic internal dialogues southpaw seemed to be having with its hosts. The author also explores the themes of resilience, love and family as the two lovers Grove and Kelso go through hell and back to reunite their long separated family. This thriller will have you on the edge of your seat wide-eyed, tongue out as you turn a page to the next.
December 19, 2025
DC Mallery took his time to build a cast of characters we can fully get behind, which is rare for novels of this genre. Grove especially was my favourite, being introduced as an aspiring sound technician just trying to get his footing after a long life of distractions, full of memories of his o,d fling Kelso.
But that’s not all that shines through with this novel. It’s a proper, suspenseful horror. Full of twists and turns, and Mallery did a good job building up suspense and excitement throughout the novel.
But that’s not all that shines through with this novel. It’s a proper, suspenseful horror. Full of twists and turns, and Mallery did a good job building up suspense and excitement throughout the novel.
December 17, 2025
The story will definitely keep you wondering what's coming next. Grove just got a new job; things were looking up for him.He would use this as a stepping stone to get a real job, or rather his dream job, and eventually climb the ladder.He did not know fate had other plans for him. So many things happen at the beginning of the story. If you were asked to point out an example of bad luck, you would definitely point at Grove.I absolutely enjoyed this book.
December 23, 2025
DC Mallery’s Choose is a captivating, gripping horror movie that’s tense from start to finish. It’s a tale founded on love, but defined by the wonderful suspense and gripping serial killer case it explores. Featuring a cast of characters that are not only developed, but feel real and relatable, Mallery really delivered a master stroke. I’d recommend this to fans of both horror and serial killer thrillers.
December 23, 2025
Choose is a psychological horror that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Following an upcoming sound engineer who just started getting his life together, Choose slowly evolves into a suspenseful killing spree as an unnatural force takes over the main characters body, making him commit heinous murders while blacked out. Every chapter is more tense than the last. You won't be dissapointed with this read.
December 19, 2025
DC Mallery has a perfect understanding of creating suspense. Even the small things, Mallery can build suspense, and he showed that from the first page when he subtly built tension while developing Grove's character. Choose may just be one of the best horror novels I have read in a while. It's a gripping, intense read that hooks you right from the start and doesn't let go.
February 3, 2026
This just wasn’t my cup of tea, the writing was well done and definitely kept my attention. It just wasn’t what I was expecting, I would’ve loved to delve a little deeper into Grove and Kelso’s relationship.
January 31, 2026
Choose is a mystery book that takes us through the journey of a young man who faces a weird experience with his body that makes him commit murder. To protect himself he moves to another town and changes his identity and he tries to identify what is going on with his body.
The writer has really brought out the personalities of different characters. There is a proper flow of events and the grammar used is easy to understand.
The plot is diverse as the author has spoken about murder mystery, investigation, health conditions, hence can accommodate divers readers.
I would highly recommend this book for mystery lovers.
The writer has really brought out the personalities of different characters. There is a proper flow of events and the grammar used is easy to understand.
The plot is diverse as the author has spoken about murder mystery, investigation, health conditions, hence can accommodate divers readers.
I would highly recommend this book for mystery lovers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews